Popular Falkirk restaurant Jambo heads to Edinburgh

Chris McCall

A popular restaurant that brought a little taste of Africa to Grahams Road has closed and is heading to Edinburgh.

The Jambo Grill opened in Falkirk in 2012 and since then has proved a hit with diners from across the country looking to sample some authentic Kenyan cooking.

We have one main wish which is that we will not lose touch with all our local customers who have been very supportive from day one

Serah Kimuyu

Run by husband-and-wife team Francis and Serah Kimuyu, the restaurant earned glowing reviews in national newspapers and attracted customers from as far away as Aberdeen.

The pair had originally planned to open Jambo - its name is a traditional Kenyan greeting - in Edinburgh, but eventually settled on Falkirk due to prohibitive start-up costs.

Now they are set to re-open their new restaurant in the capital’s Gilmore Place on April 9 - and they hope all their loyal local customers will come to visit them.

“We have one main wish which is that we will not lose touch with all our local customers who have been very supportive from day one,” said Serah, who manages front-of-house while Francis cooks.

“This support has kept us going during very difficult economic times and, because of this, we have managed to keep going. Hopefully in the long run we will realise our dream by becoming the best and most authentic African restaurant in Scotland.”

Jambo was the first solo venture by Francis, who has worked in restaurants across the UK for more than 17 years.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here,” continued Serah. “We have had the pleasure of meeting very lovely people some of whom have become very regular supporters.”